ASMB Assembly Biosciences Inc

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASMB), a biotechnology company developing innovative antiviral therapeutics targeting serious viral diseases, today reported financial results and recent updates for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

“We are excited about the advancement of 5366, our long-acting helicase-primase inhibitor targeting high-recurrence genital herpes, into GLP toxicology studies and are working quickly to begin clinical trials for this candidate in the first half of next year,” said Jason Okazaki, chief executive officer and president of Assembly Bio. “In parallel, our research organization continues to progress towards a second development candidate nomination, which we expect later this year. We are pleased with the progress of our expanded virology pipeline, for which strong preclinical data from multiple programs were highlighted at recent scientific meetings.”

Second Quarter 2023 and Recent Updates

• Continued IND-enabling studies, including initiation of GLP toxicology studies, for development candidate ABI-5366 (5366), a long-acting helicase-primase inhibitor targeting high-recurrence genital herpes
• Scientific conferences:
  • Presented data highlighting the preclinical characterization of 5366 in one oral presentation and one poster at the 47th Annual International Herpesvirus Workshop (IHW) held July 15-19, 2023
  • Presented five posters at the International Liver CongressTM, the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), held June 21-24, 2023, including preclinical data for the company’s oral, small-molecule hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis delta virus (HDV) entry inhibitor program and results from in vitro and clinical studies of the next-generation core inhibitors ABI-4334 (4334) and ABI-H3733 (3733)
  • Presented during the Science of HBV Cure meeting held June 2-3, 2023, on 4334

Anticipated Milestones and Events

• Nominate an additional development candidate from the expanded research portfolio in 2023
• Complete IND/CTA submission for 5366 and initiate clinical studies in the first half of 2024
• Advance an additional development candidate into clinical studies by year-end 2024

Upcoming Conferences

• Three abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2023 International HBV Meeting taking place September 19-23, 2023, in Kobe, Japan, highlighting preclinical and in vitro data for the company’s oral, small-molecule HBV/HDV entry inhibitor program, small-molecule, liver-focused interferon alpha receptor agonist program and next-generation core inhibitor candidate 4334

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

• Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $59.8 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $73.0 million as of March 31, 2023. Assembly Bio’s cash position is projected to fund operations through the third quarter of 2024.
• Research and development expenses were $12.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $17.8 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease is primarily due to prior year preclinical work and start-up costs preparing for the trials for 3733 and 4334 as well as the discontinued development of vebicorvir and ABI-H2158 and decreases in employee and contractor-related expenses.
• General and administrative expenses were $5.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $6.8 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease is primarily due to overall cost-saving initiatives.
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $16.9 million, or $0.32 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $24.5 million, or $0.51 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2022.

About Assembly BiosciencesAssembly Biosciences is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of innovative small-molecule antiviral therapeutics designed to change the path of serious viral diseases and improve the lives of patients worldwide. Led by an accomplished team of leaders in virologic drug development, Assembly Bio is committed to improving outcomes for patients struggling with the serious, chronic impacts of herpesvirus, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infections. For more information, visit assemblybio.com. 

Forward-Looking StatementsThe information in this press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ. These risks and uncertainties include: Assembly Bio’s ability to maintain financial resources necessary to continue its clinical studies and fund business operations; Assembly Bio’s ability to initiate and complete clinical studies involving its therapeutic product candidates, including studies contemplated by Assembly Bio’s collaboration agreements, in the currently anticipated timeframes; safety and efficacy data from clinical or nonclinical studies may not warrant further development of Assembly Bio’s product candidates; clinical and nonclinical data presented at conferences may not differentiate Assembly Bio’s product candidates from other companies’ candidates; results of nonclinical studies may not be representative of disease behavior in a clinical setting and may not be predictive of the outcomes of clinical studies; and other risks identified from time to time in Assembly Bio’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). You are urged to consider statements that include the words may, will, would, could, should, might, believes, hopes, estimates, projects, potential, expects, plans, anticipates, intends, continues, forecast, designed, goal or the negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Assembly Bio intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. More information about Assembly Bio’s risks and uncertainties are more fully detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Assembly Bio’s filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Except as required by law, Assembly Bio assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ContactsInvestor and Corporate: Shannon Ryan SVP, Investor Relations, Corporate Affairs and Alliance Management (415) 738-2992 sryan@assemblybio.com

Media: Sam Brown Inc.Hannah Hurdle(805) 338-4752ASMBMedia@sambrown.com 

ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands except for share amounts and par value)
		June 30,				December 31,
			2023				2022
		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,623			$	52,418
Marketable securities			38,208				39,192
Accounts receivable from collaboration			342				944
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			3,908				4,413
Total current assets			64,081				96,967
Property and equipment, net			541				743
Operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets			1,623				3,195
Other assets			332				889
Total assets		$	66,577			$	101,794
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	904			$	2,493
Accrued research and development expenses			2,037				3,122
Other accrued expenses			4,188				7,317
Operating lease liabilities - short-term			1,702				3,364
Total current liabilities			8,831				16,296
Deferred revenue			2,733				2,733
Operating lease liabilities - long-term			64				101
Total liabilities			11,628				19,130
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding			—				—
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 52,450,731 and 48,894,973 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively			52				49
Additional paid-in capital			815,588				807,938
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(325	)			(803	)
Accumulated deficit			(760,366	)			(724,560	)
Total stockholders' equity			54,949				82,624
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	66,577			$	101,794

ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands except for share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
			2023				2022				2023				2022
Operating expenses
Research and development			12,523				17,792				27,070				34,997
General and administrative			4,965				6,781				9,977				12,738
Total operating expenses			17,488				24,573				37,047				47,735
Loss from operations			(17,488	)			(24,573	)			(37,047	)			(47,735	)
Other income
Interest and other income, net			592				112				1,201				183
Total other income			592				112				1,201				183
Net loss		$	(16,896	)		$	(24,461	)		$	(35,846	)		$	(47,552	)
Other comprehensive loss
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities			188				(90	)			478				(579	)
Comprehensive loss		$	(16,708	)		$	(24,551	)		$	(35,368	)		$	(48,131	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.32	)		$	(0.51	)		$	(0.69	)		$	(0.99	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted			52,260,088				48,293,495				51,638,928				48,208,735